The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-19

"Ah, we do not make it ourselves" he
answered; " it is made for US every year
by Turkish ladies. 1t comes all the way
from Constantinople."
"And what do you send them in re-
turn?" thoughtlessly said.
The Father shrugged his shoulders,
with an easy, worldly laugh.
words; only words" he replied.
The disparaging adverb "only" was
misplaced. Words are never "only
Words" They are signs, symbols, tokens,
of all that heart can crave or fear; of
the dearest JOY and of the deadliest hurt.
They can enable us to renew our strength
as the eagles. They can slay us by the
torture of wounded spirit" of which
even Christ says, "Who can bear it?"
Fifty spoken, lovingly spoken, sympa-
thizingly spoken, they are the best of
"kindlings." The fire they light of
morning does not need making over
again the whole day long. In fact, it
"keeps Goals over night; good, warm,
glowing bed all ready next morning.
Who does not know the comfort of open
ing the ashes on the hearth of a winter
morning, and finding bed of red Goals
to begin the days work with! That is
the way kind, loving word lasts. The
pressure of duties and hurry Of things
may seem to have oblterated it, as the
ashes cover the hot Goals, but it is there,
all the same, and its warmth is there, and
neither the room nor the heart can be
quite at the mercy of the cold or trouble
and sorrow while it is there.
Why do we not speak such words
oftener? Why do we not remember to
praise faithful, painstaking servants? To
say, sin 80 many Words" that we like this
or that or the other, which has been done,
and we'll done, for our comfort? SIN 30
many words tell them that we perceive
they are endeavoring to do their best?
"In go many words" make them feel that
we consider them of the same flesh and
blood with ourselves, and that we know
they can be tired, discouraged, out of
sorts, glad or sorry or lonely, just as we
are? Such words make good kindlings.
Why do we not, to our nearest and
dearest husbands to wives, wives to
husbands, parents to children, and chill
dren to parents-why do we not oftener
speak words of affection, assurances of
love? Say, Gin so many words" what, to
be sure, they know already, but which
no human heart is ever tired of hearing,
ever leaves off longing to be treasured of
that they are dear to us, precious in
our eyes and in our deepest souls? Such
words make good BINDINGS" And if we
only furnish the kindlings, the fire will
come of itself; and it will warm the whole
house, this kind of fire. One such will
suffice.
Whose business is it to cut up the kind
lings is always troublesome question III
households where service is scanty or
lacking; and the question being trouble
some one, is often left unanswered; it is
everybody's business, therefore nobody's
business, and never, or irregularly, done.
But the preparings of kindlings of the
other kind the kindlings for the sweet,
sacred inner fires in hearts and souls,
fires of happiness, trust, sympathy, as
sistanoe;-this, is indeed, everybody's
business; business of everybody who
loves or is loved; wishes to love or be
loved; wishes to help or be helped; to
give or to receive; to have or to hold the
best OF life. In no household can it be
especially assigned to one or the other.
All must do it; do it equally, do it regu-
larly. II one fails, all suffer.
1t sometimes happens that by degrees.
nobody knows just when, how, or why,
the furnishing of these "kindlings" comes
to be considered the work of, or falls
into the hands of, one member of fam
lily; oftenest it is the mother. She it is
who speaks the soothing WORD to the
hasty temper, the cheering word to the
weary, the laughter bringing word to the
respondent. She it is who plans the
small pleasures and surprises that break
up the monotony of living; the gifts for
birthdays and Christmas; the friends to
dinner or tea; the trip to the seashore.
Yet, in all families where the conditions
of life press at all heavily, the heaviest
pressure must come on the mother. She
it is who must have the brunt of care in
times of illness; the brunt of all troubles
in matters of service; the brunt of plan
ming, foreseeing, and providing; last, but
not least, in ali families but those of the
rich, the brunt of making dollar do its
utmost of buying. All this is the moth
ers work. Ought she not to have plenty
of BINDINGS" always ready TO her
hand lovingly prepared, unfailingly
offered by every member of the family
for which she spends her whole strength
body and soul?
I once heard young lady speaking Of
a family in which she had been governess
for year. 1t was one of the exceptional
houses in which the father furnished the
"kindlings."
at was truly wonderful" she said, "to
see how that whole family changed the
minute Mr.. - came home. He used to
come straight home from his bank as
soon as it was closed, and the minute
his voice was heard in the hall every
body felt CHEEKY. He took his wife out